Trending...
- Spokane: SPD Arrest Level III Registered Sex Offender for Failure to Register - 164
- Spokane Complex Fire Parks & Recreation update 08-12-26
- Spokane Police Respond to Midday Shooting on STA Bus
Cpl N. Briggs #1177
SPD uses less-lethal tools to take violent suspect into custody downtown
On 03-23-21 just before 6:30PM, SPD responded to the area of Riverside and Main regarding a possible stabbing. A distressed 911 caller stated that a male was armed with a knife, had tried to stab them, and was currently "coming at" them.
The investigation revealed that the suspect approached two strangers after over-hearing their conversation. The suspect inserted himself into the discourse, for unknown reasons quickly became incensed, and then began threatening the victims with a knife. The victims were not injured.
SPD officers quickly converged on the area and were able to locate the suspect on Howard St between Main Ave and Riverside Ave. The suspect was still armed with a knife and refused multiple directives to relinquish it.
SPD was faced with a perilous situation; moments ago the suspect had attacked a random stranger without provocation. The suspect was still armed and in the potentially congested downtown corridor. Ensuring the safety of the innocent public was responding Officers' primary concern. Officers also wanted to maximize the chance for a peaceful resolution. With those two goals in mind, multiple SPD resources were utilized to contain the area and bring in specialty personnel and equipment. On-duty SWAT resources as well as a Hostage Negotiation Team member responded to try and negotiate a peaceful resolution.
More on Washingtoner
Officers and the negotiator attempted to convince the suspect to drop the knife and surrender for approximately a half-hour. The suspect continued to act erratically and refused to put the knife down. The suspect then turned and began walking away from police. Given the extreme risk the suspect posed to the public it was determined the suspect must be promptly apprehended. Multiple less-lethal tools, including an SPD K-9, were utilized to apprehend the person.
This situation was difficult for officers to mitigate due to the uncooperative, armed suspect and the populated setting. While Officers would of preferred the person had complied and therefore force would not have been needed, the availability of less-lethal tools and advanced training meant a potentially lethal encounter was resolved with minimal injury.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Casto. In addition to this incident, Casto was wanted on a Department of Corrections warrant stemming from a different felony assault situation. Casto will be booked on his warrant and the new charge of Assault 2nd Degree (additional charges are possible). Casto is an eight-time convicted felon including two previous convictions for felonious assault and two for criminal mischief with a deadly weapon. Casto told officers that he had recently used methamphetamine.
SPD uses less-lethal tools to take violent suspect into custody downtown
On 03-23-21 just before 6:30PM, SPD responded to the area of Riverside and Main regarding a possible stabbing. A distressed 911 caller stated that a male was armed with a knife, had tried to stab them, and was currently "coming at" them.
The investigation revealed that the suspect approached two strangers after over-hearing their conversation. The suspect inserted himself into the discourse, for unknown reasons quickly became incensed, and then began threatening the victims with a knife. The victims were not injured.
SPD officers quickly converged on the area and were able to locate the suspect on Howard St between Main Ave and Riverside Ave. The suspect was still armed with a knife and refused multiple directives to relinquish it.
SPD was faced with a perilous situation; moments ago the suspect had attacked a random stranger without provocation. The suspect was still armed and in the potentially congested downtown corridor. Ensuring the safety of the innocent public was responding Officers' primary concern. Officers also wanted to maximize the chance for a peaceful resolution. With those two goals in mind, multiple SPD resources were utilized to contain the area and bring in specialty personnel and equipment. On-duty SWAT resources as well as a Hostage Negotiation Team member responded to try and negotiate a peaceful resolution.
More on Washingtoner
- Spokane: Public Service Announcement
- Tacoma Police Department Launches Tacoma Public Safety Partnership
- Paula Josephine Sadler Releases "Imagine" on 24th Anniversary of Sobriety
- Ritz-Carlton Residences Houston Generates Strong Early New Construction Sales at 2120 Post Oak Blvd
- No Sugar Baker Continues National Growth with Seattle Market Expansion Across Washington, Idaho, and Alaska
Officers and the negotiator attempted to convince the suspect to drop the knife and surrender for approximately a half-hour. The suspect continued to act erratically and refused to put the knife down. The suspect then turned and began walking away from police. Given the extreme risk the suspect posed to the public it was determined the suspect must be promptly apprehended. Multiple less-lethal tools, including an SPD K-9, were utilized to apprehend the person.
This situation was difficult for officers to mitigate due to the uncooperative, armed suspect and the populated setting. While Officers would of preferred the person had complied and therefore force would not have been needed, the availability of less-lethal tools and advanced training meant a potentially lethal encounter was resolved with minimal injury.
The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Jonathan Casto. In addition to this incident, Casto was wanted on a Department of Corrections warrant stemming from a different felony assault situation. Casto will be booked on his warrant and the new charge of Assault 2nd Degree (additional charges are possible). Casto is an eight-time convicted felon including two previous convictions for felonious assault and two for criminal mischief with a deadly weapon. Casto told officers that he had recently used methamphetamine.
0 Comments
Latest on Washingtoner
- San Diego Attorney Anthony Z. Vargas Narrows Practice to Employment Law, Representing Employees Only
- Spokane: Additional PPE Kits Available Tuesday and Thursday
- Solid Earth Introduces RealtyID, a Universal Identity Spine for the Real Estate Industry
- BlazeHive's AI SEO Agent Outranks Human Writers on 500+ Google Top-3 Results in 5 Months, on Autopilot
- Cracking the Immortality Code: A Human / AI Long-Term Collaboration Working to Achieve Immortality
- On the Boards: Proform Builds Announce New Construction in Alki, Seattle
- On the Boards: Proform Builds Announce New Construction in Gig Harbor
- Phinge Exposes Massive AI Security Risks, Claiming Its Patented Hardware-Verified Architecture Is The Only Safeguard Against Surveillance Capitalism
- Phinge & CEO Robert DeMaio Publicly Declare Cash Settlements or Judgments Alone Cannot & Will Not Remedy the Deep Public Harm of Infringing Its IP
- Dana Flanagan Expands the Authority Architect, Bringing a Nontraditional Approach to Executive Authority, Strategic Access and Business Growth
- Phinge's Netverse: Reclaiming the Digital Frontier For Everyone Through CEO Robert DeMaio's Vision of a True App-less, User Data Sovereign World
- DuraFast Label Company Launches Seiko SLP850 2" Thermal Printer with Free Label Promotion
- Scientific Figure Releases Free Layout Template Libraries for Graphical Abstracts and Research Posters
- Permian Museum announces the addition of an Ancient Alien Artifacts photo gallery
- VISION 2050 Award for Historic Tideflats Subarea Plan Presented by Puget Sound Regional Council at Tacoma City Council Meeting
- The Golden Jazz Fest Shuttle Returns for 2026
- City of Tacoma to Activate New Automated Enforcement Cameras Beginning September 14
- KeysCaribbean Resorts Offer Savings On Vacations Through Aug. 31, Preview Exceptional Select Fall Rates of Less Than $200/Night
- Covington Makers Market Returns Sept. 12 with Local Makers, Artists, Small Businesses & Food Vendors
- Fit Body Boot Camp Launches Nationwide 'Fit Body Forever' Workshops to Help Adults 60+ Rebuild Strength and Prevent Falls